Carnation plant named &#39;CFPC Mele&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new variety of carnation plant named ‘CFPC Mele’ having a compact form of plant with well presented yellow flowers.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Botanical classification: Dianthus caryophyllus.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new carnation variety denomination is ‘CFPC Mele’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of hybrid carnation botanically known as Dianthus caryophyllus, and referred to by the cultivar name ‘CFPC Mele’. The new variety, identified as selection no. 060102, was discovered as a naturally occurring whole plant mutation in a controlled cultivated planting of the variety ‘CFPC Annette’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,596) in Salinas, Calif. The original plant from which the new mutation variety originated is the variety known as ‘CFPC Annette’. The new variety ‘CFPC Mele’ has been asexually reproduced by vegetative side shoot cuttings in Salinas, Calif. and the distinguishing characteristics are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘CFPC Mele’ is a potted spray-type carnation plant variety having a compact form of plant with well presented yellow flowers.

Comparison with Original Variety ‘CFPC Annette’

Plants of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Mele’ are similar to the original variety ‘CFPC Annette’ in plant habit and growth rate. Under similar growing conditions in Salinas, Calif., under commercial practice, plants of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Mele’ differed from plants of the original variety ‘CFPC Annette’ in the following characteristic:

-   -   1. The new variety ‘CFPC Mele’ produces light yellow flowers         whereas the original variety ‘CFPC Annette’ produces light pink         flowers.

Comparison with Other Similar Varieties

Plants of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Mele’ are similar to plants of the variety ‘CFPC Yellow Lacy’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,830) in plant habitat and growth rate. Under similar growing conditions, however, in Salinas, Calif., under commercial practice, plants of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Mele’ differed from plants of ‘CFPC Yellow Lacy’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. The new variety ‘CFPC Mele’ produces light yellow flowers         whereas the variety ‘CFPC Yellow Lacy’ produces darker yellow         flowers with picotee faint pink.     -   2. The new variety ‘CFPC Mele’ produces plants that are slightly         taller than plants of the variety ‘CFPC Yellow Lacy’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

Typical specimens of the plant and flowers for the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Mele’ are shown in the accompanying photograph. The colors shown are as true as possible within the usual limits of this kind of illustration. FIG. 1 is a whole plant view of the new variety ‘CFPC Mele’ grown in a pot. The plant shown in the illustration is 120 days from date of planting.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Mele’ is of plants 139 days from a planting date of Dec. 6, 2009 grown in a commercial greenhouse in Salinas, Calif. The cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in the environment such as temperature, length of day and light intensity without any variance in genotype.

Plants of the new variety have been grown successfully under temperature conditions averaging about 18° C. at night and about 24° C. to 28° C. during the day under light conditions of about 14 hours. Plants are daylight neutral and flower throughout the year. Chemical growth regulators are not required for production. The new variety may be produced as a potted spray-type carnation. To produce a commercial product the plants may be pinched once with the center bud removed. Pinched plants are about 6 inches tall and about 6 inches in diameter. Flower diameter averages about 2 inches with a crown of about 1 inch. Foliage is generally about 3½ inches long and about ⅜ inches at the widest point. The typical container size for commercial growth is 4½ inches.

It has been observed that the shelf life of the new variety is about 21 days with a time to first bud opening of about 15-16 weeks. The commercial classification of the new carnation variety is a potted spray-type. The plant hardiness zone has not been determined.

The following description is with respect to a plant produced as a potted spray-type carnation. The plant and flower measurements and foliage size are established as an average using standard commercial cultural practices. In the description of this new carnation variety, color values have been taken from The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.C.C.).

-   Plant:     -   -   Height (inches).—7½ at blooming time.         -   Form.—herbaceous.         -   Growing habit.—semi upright.         -   Branching characteristics.—4-5 laterals per stem.         -   Breaking action.—6-8 breaks per plant with strong straight             stems.         -   First appearance of color in buds.—105 days after planting.         -   Vigor.—excellent.         -   Shelf life.—21 days.         -   Blooming habit.—spray type.         -   Blooming season.—year round.         -   Lastingness of blooms.—about 10 days.         -   Disease (susceptibility/resistance observed).—excellent             resistance to soil-borne diseases such as Fusarium oxysporum             and F. graminearium, and root rots such as damping off,             water molds and similar types, as are typical of carnations.             Pest susceptibility/resistance not evaluated or observed             Drought and temperature susceptibility/resistance not             evaluated or observed.         -   Mutation prone.—no.         -   Propagation.—Type: side shoot cuttings Time to rooting: 18             days with soil temperatures of about 18° C. to 21° C.             Rooting habit: good fibrous system.         -   Growth treatments or special conditions.—single pinch. -   Foliage:     -   -   Stem.—Length (inches).—6 Diameter (inches): ⅜ (at base)             Texture: smooth Cross section: edged Color: 137 B internode             145 C node.         -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—26.         -   Arrangement of Leaves.—bi-lateral along the stem Shape of             Leaf: long, narrow, lanceolate Size of Leaf: Width (inches):             ⅜ Length (inches): 3½Leaf Apex: acute Edge: smooth Base:             smooth Aspect: elliptic Surface texture: Top: smooth Bottom:             smooth.         -   Leaf venation.—prominent mid-vein at underside.         -   Leaf longitudinal axis.—recurved.         -   Leaf cross section (upper side).—weakly concave.         -   Leaf color.—Mature Leaf, upper side: 137 B; under side: 137             C Young Leaf, upper side: 137 D; under side: 138 B.         -   Leaf waxy layer.—medium. -   Flower:     -   -   Flower appearance.—matte to shiny.         -   Flower type.—double.         -   Flower profile of upper part of corolla.—convex.         -   Flower profile of lower part of corolla.—concave.         -   Flower shape.—somewhat domed shape rounded.         -   Number of blossom per branch.—6-7 Depth of fully expanded             blossoms (inches): 1 Diameter of fully expanded blossoms             (inches): 2 .         -   Calyx.—Sepals number: 5 Length (inches): 1⅛ Width (inches):             7/16 Color: outer side base: 144 B outer side middle to tip:             144 A inner side: 138 C Texture: smooth Appearance: matte             with waxy bloom Shape: cylindrical.         -   Flower petals.—Form/Shape: fan shape (type 4 UPOV) Petal             Edge: serrated: width: 1/16 inches depth: 1/16 inches edge             type: crenate-dentate Texture: smooth Appearance:             matte-shiny Petal surface of blade: undulating Number per             flower: 24 Outer petals: Length (inches): 1¾ Width (inches):             1⅛ Inner petals: Length (inches): 1¼ Width (cm): ⅝.         -   Fragrance.—absent.         -   Flower bud (at onset of color).—Length (inches): 1⅛ Diameter             (inches): ½Form/Shape: cylindrical.         -   Flower color.—1. General tonality: Yellow 2. Petals, upper             surface: 4 B 3. Petals, lower surface: 4 C 4. Petals, edge:             4 B 5. Petals, center: 4 C 6. Early Bud: 18 A.         -   Color distribution.—one color.         -   Petal macule (random spots).—absent.         -   Flower progression with age.—color slightly fades to lighter             color. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistillate Pistil number: 1 Pistil length             (inches): 1½ Stigma color: 4 B Stigma shape: filamentous             Style color: whiter than 155 D Style length (inches): 1½             Style number: two and three.         -   Ovary.—Shape: ovoid Surface: smooth Color: Base: 145 C Body:             145 C Apex: 145 A.         -   Androecium.—none produced.         -   Fruit and seeds.—none produced. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of carnation plant, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 